By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – As lawmakers return to Springfield, Governor Bruce Rauner is giving them a list of his legislative priorities.

Items on the governor’s agenda include term limits, pension reform and a solid spending plan before the next fiscal year begins.

“We’re going to do it right this year,” Rauner said. “Let’s get a revenue estimate that we agree on as the law calls for, and then do a balanced budget that lives within our means for a full year, not partial, and calls for no new taxes. That’s number one first priority.”

The governor is also calling for legislation addressing the state’s opioid epidemic and giving communities more control to consolidate local government and freeze property taxes.

The governor is pushing for legislation to set term limits, lower property taxes and create jobs, as well as lower income taxes.

“The second priority related to the balanced budget is to get an income tax reduction on the people of Illinois, and that is part of getting pension reform done,” Rauner said during a news conference. “Once pension reform is approved by the courts, getting a billion-dollar tax cut.”

Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady said work on the budget must begin now.

“I trust that Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton will work with the governor Leader Durkin and our caucuses to get this done, but we don’t have any time to waste,” Brady said during the news conference.

The governor said he’s planning a meeting with the four legislative leaders this Thursday to discuss some of the issues.